SHELBY – A Midwest restaurant that touts its jumbo wings and beer selection hopes to win over Cleveland County residents looking for a place to eat, drink and watch sports.

Wings Etc., based in Indiana, plans to open its 22nd restaurant, and first in the southeast, Nov. 13 at the site of the former Ham’s restaurant across East Dixon Boulevard from Cleveland Mall.

“We have a wide variety of food items highlighted by our award-winning jumbo wings and also sell more than 40 varieties of beer and a full selection of liquor,” said Eric Stuczynski, vice president of franchise support for Wings Etc.

Stuczynski said the Shelby location will operate more than 20 TVs, offer outside seating and provide an outdoor area for customers to play cornhole.

“Shelby is a good fit for our concept because of two reasons: The proximity to the Charlotte sports market and the lack of any sports-oriented restaurants in Cleveland County,” Stuczynski said.

Ham’s closed its restaurant at the site, 1910 E. Dixon Blvd., in November 2010.

Wings Etc. obtained city of Shelby permits last month to renovate the vacant building, with work valued at $100,000.

“We are very excited to be opening our first store, not only in Shelby, but in North Carolina also,” Stuczynski said. “We have recently expanded our strategy of growth to include the East Coast and Southern states. Wings Etc. is a family-oriented, sports-themed restaurant and pub.”

Reach Matthew Tessnear at 704-669-3331, at mtessnear@shelbystar.com or on Twitter @MatthewTessnear.

Wings Etc.

Headquarters: Fort Wayne, Ind.

Restaurants: All current locations are in Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. The company plans to also soon expand into Kentucky and Ohio.

First opened: Wings Etc. opened its first restaurant in Mishawaka, Ind., in 1994.

What’s on the menu?

Wings Etc.’s current locations serve:

* Jumbo wings, with no extra charge for boneless, and 18 different sauces

Wings Etc. also touts its jumbo wing challenge, which requires customers to eat 16 hotly sauced jumbo wings with no beverage or other food item. Eaters who complete the challenge get their picture on the Wall of Flame.